ECOWAS delegation meets ousted Niger president

The delegation of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States, unites 15 states of the region) met with Mohamed Bazum, President of Niger, whose removal was announced by the military at the end of July. About it reported French radio station RFI.

“According to our information, this meeting took place in the presence of the prime minister appointed by the rebels and another member of the junta,” the report said.

According to the radio station, the delegation wanted to know the conditions under which the ousted president is being held. ECOWAS representatives, as reported previously arrived in Niger to attempt a new diplomatic mediation with the military.

On August 18, the commanders-in-chief of the armies of the West African states discussed the logistics and other aspects of the possible deployment of collective armed forces in Niger. As a result of that meeting, the President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, said that, as part of the proposed operation in Niger, he was ready to provide a battalion of 850 to 1,100 people to the collective forces. According to AP, more soldiers from Senegal and Benin may take part in a possible invasion.

As Reuters reported, the bloc on Friday said it was agreeing to an unnamed “D-Day” for a possible military intervention in Niger if diplomatic efforts fail. They stressed that they would not conduct “an endless dialogue with the recalcitrant junta.”

On July 26, the Niger military announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazum. The new leader of the country was the head of the presidential guard, Abdurakhman Tchiani, who became the leader of the rebellion. On July 31, ECOWAS issued a statement on the possible use of force if the rebels do not restore constitutional order in the country within a week and release the ousted president.